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Rating: I see greedy hands choosing Hey Jude by the 'evil' Pickett from an infinity of sacred monsters of Soul Music, but they choose confidently, decisively, guided by the memories of a voice that fills rooms, warms spirits, and saturates the air.
Pickett was one of the greatest soulmen of the star-spangled sixties. Born in the warm and temperate Alabama and raised to the sound of gospel and spiritual, thanks to a sharp, strong and passionate character, and a stunningly aggressive voice, he would become one of the symbols of that era's R&B, contributing to the 'release' of Rhythm & Blues, confined and relegated in those years only to a Black audience. Recognizing in him the fabric of an idol, signed by Atlantic, he would churn out one success after another and establish himself not only as a composer of his own pieces but especially as a great interpreter of covers. Moving from the studios at Stax Record in Memphis to those at Fame in Alabama between '68 and '69, he would release 'Hey Jude', an eighth endeavor if considering the various Best of, where he would demonstrate his incredible qualities as a 'vicious' of Soul.
But what is 'Hey Jude'?
'Hey Jude' is a warm, positive, and vibrant album. It is a song to love as a feeling, to love as physicality, as pleasure. Everything inside it feels the animalistic charge of Pickett. Everything. Every melody, every intonation, every verse oozes passion. That wild sense of rhythm, that hysterical and rhythmic phrasing 'à la Pickett' marks positivity and sadness, joy and search, the flame, and the unrestrained desire towards his women depending on his state of mind or the piece we will listen to. With Wilson we might find ourselves, as in 'A Man And A Half', in an open declaration to enjoy the joys of love forever or for just one night as in 'My Own Style Of Loving' and 'Night Owl', because after all, everything a night can offer can be forever. We will feel with Pickett the urge to shout this feeling in its simple basic meaning in 'Hey Jude', where his bittersweet and carnal sob will gift us one of the most thrilling reinterpretations of this great Beatles piece. We will need to sing our being wild and free to the notes of the gritty revisitation of 'Born To Be Wild' by Steppenwolf or we might let ourselves be seduced by the snappy saxophones of 'Sit Down And Talk This Over' or the teasing choirs of 'Sweet Ispiration' in 'Save Me'. Along with his arrogant and rough voice we will shout all our love in 'Toe Hold' and wish his seductive panting would never stop by singing the soulful ballads of the album: 'Search Your Heart' and 'Back In Arms'. Unique pieces these, rare gems of another age.
This is nothing else but what 'Hey Jude' is. A jolt inside. A lightning excitation. The meeting of those two imperfect halves of the world that are man and woman and the wonder that can arise from their clash.
... I like to remember having met Wilson Pickett in a tiny room of a wintery Paris thanks to a person who, when introducing him, laughed and told me it was Wilson, Wilson the 'evil'... So I never got that impertinent voice out of my head.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Hey Jude (04:07)
(Words & music by John Lennon - Paul McCartney)
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her in your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made, made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it better
Any time you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulder
For you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By makin the world a little bit colder
Hey Jude, don't let me down, you found her
Now go on out and get her
But remember, to let her in your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, Hey Jude, begin
You waited for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, Hey Jude, you do
The movements you need is on your shoulder
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Just remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it better
Ow! Ow! Hey Jude! Ow! Hey, Hey! Yeah!
It's gonna be alright
Hey, Jude, Jude, you'll be alright
Hey Hey Hey Hey
You'll be alright Jude, Heeey, Heeey, Heeey
It's got-ta, it's got-ta, it's got-ta
Yeah, Hey Jude
(Na, na,na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na,na
Hey Hey Jude
10 Born to Be Wild (02:46)
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
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